The OnePlus Nord CE4 and the Nothing phone (2a) are two of the most popular smartphones for buyers under Rs 25,000. We recently conducted a performance comparison between both to find out which device delivers superior performance. Let’s now move on to a battery comparison between the OnePlus Nord CE4 (review) and the Nothing Phone 2(a) (review) to find out which smartphone offers a better battery life.
Here are the battery specifications of both smartphones:
| OnePlus Nord CE4 | Nothing Phone (2a) |
| 5,500mAh battery, 100W fast charging | 5,000mAh battery, 45W fast charging |
PCMark
The PCMark battery benchmark assesses the time it takes for a smartphone’s battery to drop from 100 percent to under 20 percent. The OnePlus Nord CE4 registered a total time of 16 hours and 2 minutes to drop under 20 percent, while the Nothing Phone (2a) took 14 hours and 13 minutes to achieve the same. The results suggest the Nord CE4, on paper at least, will offer better battery backup than the Phone (2a).
Winner: OnePlus Nord CE4
Video streaming
Next, we set both phones to stream the same 30-minute YouTube video at similar resolution, brightness, and volume settings to gauge the battery drain on each device. Both the OnePlus Nord CE4 and Nothing Phone (2a) showcased a battery drain of 4 percent at the end of the streaming test. The Phone (2a), despite carrying a smaller battery, offers a comparable endurance to the Nord CE4’s battery.
| OnePlus Nord CE4 | Nothing Phone (2a) |
| Battery drain: 4 percent | Battery drain: 4 percent |
Winner: Tied
Gaming test
To gauge the battery drain on both devices during intense workloads, we tested the phones by playing BGMI, which is a moderately demanding game, for 30 minutes each and at similar graphical settings. The OnePlus Nord CE4 registered a battery drain of 7 percent at the end of the test, while the Nothing Phone (2a) registered a battery drain of 10 percent. The OnePlus Nord CE4 wins the gaming test with a slight lead.
Winner: OnePlus Nord CE4
Charging speeds
The OnePlus Nord CE4 comes with a whopping 100W fast charging support and has the charging brick included in the retail box. The Nothing Phone (2a) supports a more modest 45W fast charging, but you’ll need to purchase the charger separately, which can drive up the final cost slightly.
Coming to the charging speed, the Nord CE4 takes 35 minutes to recharge completely from 20 percent to 100 percent, while the Phone (2a) takes roughly 56 minutes to achieve the same. Do note here that the charging time on the Phone (2a) is likely to be reduced further with its compatible charger.
| OnePlus Nord CE4 | Nothing Phone (2a) |
| Charging time: 35 minutes | Charging time: 56 minutes |
Winner: OnePlus Nord CE4
Verdict
The OnePlus Nord CE4 wins against the Nothing Phone (2a) in our battery comparison. It offers a more enduring battery life and significantly better charging speeds. For users who prioritise battery life in a smartphone, the Nord CE4 is the better option under the Rs 25,000 price bracket. While the Nothing Phone (2a) does not have a battery that’s as enduring, we need to keep in mind it also comes with a smaller 5,000mAh cell. Despite its smaller battery, the device put up a decent fight and will easily last an entire day for most users.
